Gap tolerant merge element for contiguous-disk bubble devices

Abstract

A gap tolerant merge element insensitive to crystallographic orientation has a first input track with an end portion substantially facing the end portion of a second input track to form a merge region. The straight edge region in the end portion of the first input track is of a different length than the straight edge region in the end portion of the second input track that it faces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A merge element for ion-implanted contiguous-disk bubble devices comprising a first bubble propagation track having a first end portion, said first portion having a first straight edge region with a first length, and   a second bubble propagation track having a second end portion, said second portion having a second straight edge region with a second length, said second length longer than said first length, said second region facing said first region to form the opposite sides of a merge channel, said first end portion and said second end portion form angles with respect to a line passing through the center of said merge channel which are asymmetric to each other and which participate in the merge function wherein said merge channel allows only unidirectional bubble propagation therethrough.   
     
     
       2. A merge element as described in claim 1 wherein said first edge region is perpendicular to the directions that the bubbles are propagated on said first propagation track. 
     
     
       3. A merge element as described in claim 2 wherein said second edge region is perpendicular to the directions that the bubbles are propagated on said second propagation track. 
     
     
       4. A merge element as described in claim 1 wherein said first edge region is parallel to the directions that the bubbles are propagated on said first propagation track. 
     
     
       5. A merge element as described in claim 4 wherein said second edge region is parallel to the directions that the bubbles are propagated on said second propagation track.